Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ... it's a bit of a super-sized edition.

DOMINATING THIS YEAR
The Card: Jonathan Taylor 2020 Donruss #317 -- Rookie Card
The Reason Bought: If it's not my main collecting focus within the sport I'm at best a dabbler when buying football -- and this is a recent example. I grabbed this since it felt like the cheaper side of things as Taylor has had flashes of brilliance this season (and last year) -- in fact, this was less than $12 not long ago and he's put on some real shows in the weeks since. That's why I have him leading things off here over some far-pricier pick-ups and new slabs I have gotten back lately. (Keep reading for those.)
The Grade: PSA 9

Reality Check: I liked this for the price but I'm not sure I'd go higher based on the pop report -- or pay up for a 10 when they're seemingly checking in there at a heavy clip. (Yet, he seems like the real deal -- so if you're solely focused on NFL he's a must-look.) This isn't my favorite of his RCs, but the brand might be my No. 1 for the last few years. Why? The simplicity. I liked the design for this one but the images can be a little limited for the RC crop with all the COVID issues that were seen on cardboard last year. I was a little surprised to see so many copies graded for this one as cheaper cards like this shouldn't be submitted for grading with steep processing fees -- at least right now. (There were probably a lot of them sent before PSA halted submissions as he was impressive late in his rookie season.)

Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Nothing but big pulls and big breaks in this Sunday edition.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2018 SportKings Volume 1 sports cards
Where to buy: Click here

Packs per box: 8 (seven standard, one hit pack)
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 36
Base set completion: 
27 of 48 (56 percent)
Duplicates: 1

Base cards – Walter Payton, Steve Largent, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Rick Barry, Enos Slaughter, Tom Condon, Jim Thorpe, Jim Palmer, Lori Harrigan, Fred Couples, Bodacious, Allysa Seely, Warren Moon, Hakeem Olajuwon, Harry Carson, Shani Davis, Ferguson Jenkins, Don Drysdale, Chris Mazdzer, Julie Krone, Phil Mahre, Jim Kelly, Micky Ward, Howie Long, Nate Thurmond, Tiki Barber, Brian Trottier

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Big pulls from around the collecting world, debating the centering on Prizm NFL for grading and more.

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SportKings is back and one of the surprises in store for this one is that the legendary brand will be found in blaster boxes this time around -- with a hit in every box -- without a premium price. 

This time around, it's SAGE creating the brand that stems from the 1930s, and while we'll have more details for you if you keep reading, the big key today is that there's another surprise as this one has arrived.

Blowout Cards will be giving away the contents of a 20-box case on Friday at 11 a.m. (Eastern) right here on BlowoutTV.

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